JR Smith Traded

[mrpooh]

Adrian Griffin is on his way back to the Bulls with a three-year contract.

To make room for Griffin, J.R. Smith must go.Smith, whom the Bulls acquired last week along with P.J. Brown in the Tyson Chandler trade with the Hornets, will be sent to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Howard Eisley and two future second-round draft picks, according to sources familiar with the deal.

The Bulls plan to waive Eisley to sign Griffin, sources said.

Bulls general manager John Paxson declined to comment except to confirm that the Bulls have reached an agreement with Griffin, a popular journeyman who was a co-captain for the Bulls two years ago.

Last season the Bulls passed on the 6-foot-5-inch swingman. Griffin, 32, signed a free-agent contract with the Mavericks in late November and averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while starting in 45 of the 52 games he played. He helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals.

Griffin's agent, Tony Dutt, told the Dallas Morning News that the Bulls offered a three-year deal but didn't disclose the terms. By trading Smith, the Bulls would have a minimum of $1.39 million available.

The Bulls had about $17.5 million to spend in free agency but are using most of it on Ben Wallace, who signed a four-year deal worth $60 million.

To complete their deal with Griffin, the Bulls first need Smith to complete his physical exam. Smith and Brown are expected to undergo physicals Wednesday.

Then the Bulls can make their trade with Denver, but it will take a week for Eisley to clear waivers once the Bulls release him.

Smith, 20, is a 6-6 guard whose youth probably would not serve the Bulls. Paxson has made clear he is looking for veteran leadership. Griffin, Wallace, 31, and Brown, 36, balance a roster heavy with young players.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-060716bulls,1,2640131.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines

[RA]

What a freakin horrible deal, personally I didnt think that Smith would fit in with the bulls but I figured they would deal him and get something decent in return.  Whatever people say about Smith he is a 6'6 freak athlete who has shown some ability in this league the man has value.  Instead of getting a quality player back they got a couple future 2nds and a player they plan on releasing.  Horrible just Horrible!

[lungi101]

With a rookie contract it is hard to get real value in return for him: unless you get a 1st round draft pick. I would have tried to pry one of those away from denver instead of 2 second rounders. But i guess it makes more sense for the bulls to have 2nd rounders now. They already have soo many young players, it makes more sense to pick a couple young eurpoean prospects next year in the second round and stash them overseas. Look at what the spurs have done with their 2nd rounders. If it is used wisely, I dont see this as such a terrible deal.

[lakerfanryan8]

The Bulls get Howard Eisley and two future second round picks. Eisley is expected to be released

[Hughes2James23]

i think the bulls got ripped?

[Joshua]

Not a real good deal for the Bulls. I think they could have gotten more for JR Smith from a team like Orlando or maybe Seattle...

[Josh]

I don't know who they could have gotten that they would have wanted, really.  I mean, talent wise, it's a crap deal, but not every trade is about talent.

[TradeMark]

Great deal for the Nuggets. JR could easily develop into the scoring compliment 'Melo so desperately needs, and the shooter the team needs to keep defenses honest.

The Bulls basically gave the kid away, but I kind of expected them too. I don't think they wanted him anymore than the Hornets did. After his very public spat with Byron Scott, Skiles probably didn't want any parts of him.

George Karl will at least give him some rope. Whether he hangs himself with it, we'll see.

[odogg]

Given JR Smith's drawbacks (defense, effort, coachability), age (20), playoff experience (1 series), and the load the bulls already had at his position, I don't think many people believed he'd play a game in a Chicago uniform.  However, I truly think the Bulls could have done better for a guy who is as talented and athletic as he is.  If adding another player isn't what the Bulls want right now, I can't imagine that they couldn't have gotten at least a first-rounder (which is always more valuable than 2nd rounders) for him.  This is the first Paxson move that I've doubted to date.  Perhaps he's just burned out from all the wheeling and dealing he's done this summer.

Meanwhile, I think the Nuggets will benefit from the trade quite a bit.  He can fit in with that team and be a second option if he's as good as the flashes he's shown and can keeps himself in line.

For the Bulls, could this move be a way of paying for Songaila to come back?  Because in that case, Songaila and two second-rounders ain't so bad for JR Smith.

[BlueDemon]

For the Bulls, could this move be a way of paying for Songaila to come back?  Because in that case, Songaila and two second-rounders ain't so bad for JR Smith.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2522205

Songaila's now a Wizard so that's not going to happen.

[3sixD]

lol who the heck wants howard eisley, bulls have some sort of plan but we wont know what it is until about next month i think.

[sunnyks14]

I actually don't mind this trade at all.  We brought Griffin in because the Bulls needed some vetren leadership at the gaurd and wing positions, and Griffin was a past co-captain for the team so Skiles obviously liked him.  If you look at what the bulls have done in the offseason, we have added vets leadership at the post positions but we are still young at the gaurd spots.....the guy with the most experience is Kirk and he has only played for 3 yrs.  Everybody knows that J.R. Smith was not going to work that well for the Bulls.....hes a slacker who has issues with coaches and doesn't defend that well.

The things i don't like about the moves are that I don't know if we should have offered a 3 yr contract to Griffin because he is 32.  I don't know how much the contract is worth, but I am guessing it isn't worth that much so i guess it wont hit the cap too much in the future, but how productive will he be in 2 or 3 yrs.  I know he is here more for vet leadership but most of our guys will become vets on their own in a year or 2.

The other thing i don't like is that i think we could have gotten more for Smith.  Everybody knows the spurs were after him and i think they would have given up a 1st round pick if would have sent Smith and possibly Allen or Sweetney.  The spurs need another post guy to play alongside Duncan and they get Smith who they have wanted.  The Bulls get another 1st round pick for next year.  The pick wont be the greatest because the Spurs always have a pretty good record.  When it comes down to it, 1 first round pick is better than 2 second rounders.

[mrpooh]

The reason for the second round picks could have been pure salary cap and money....They have contract extensions coming up for there young guys and already have the knicks first round pick in '07 so they might not have wanted to add another salary....

First round picks salary is guaranteed whereas a second rounder is not...so if they have no cap space they can pick up a guy in the second round and have him play overseas and not pay him.

[BlueDemon]

First round picks salary is guaranteed whereas a second rounder is not...so if they have no cap space they can pick up a guy in the second round and have him play overseas and not pay him.

Bingo.  This is why early 2nd rd picks are more valuable than late 1st rd picks.

[odogg]

The reason for the second round picks could have been pure salary cap and money....They have contract extensions coming up for there young guys and already have the knicks first round pick in '07 so they might not have wanted to add another salary....

First round picks salary is guaranteed whereas a second rounder is not...so if they have no cap space they can pick up a guy in the second round and have him play overseas and not pay him.

I forgot about the guranteed contract thing.  That is a good point, and is likely the reason for the deal.  Thanks.